The Lyons Feline Genetics Laboratory at the University of Missouri is offering genetic testing for the Silver (Inhibitor, I) locus for domestic cats. This test will determine if cats are homozygous (2 copies) or heterozygous (1 copy) for the dominant silver DNA variant. The testing may also help to determine if cats have a recessive Silver DNA variant. For this reason, testing will be conducted in collaboration with the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/) and additional information will be collected from your cats to assist this effort (download form).
Research is also continuing to determine the mechanism of action of DNA variant. Testing will be conducted in collaboration with the University of California – Davis, Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/). Testing will include all base color & patterns, determination of White versus Spotting alleles as well as Manx tail types and hair length:
| Locus | Gene | Alleles |
| Agouti, A | ASIP | A+, a, APben (includes charcoal) |
| Brown, B | TYRP1 | B+, b, bl |
| Color, C | TYR | C+, cm, cb, cs, c, ca |
| Dilute, D | MLPH | D+, d |
| Extension, E | MC1R | E+, e, er, ec |
| Long hair | FGF5 | L, l1, l2, l3, l4, l5 |
| Glitter | FGFR2 | Gltr+, gltr |
| White, Spotting (W, S, G) | KIT | W, w+, S, g |
| Ticked, Ti | DKK4 | ti+, TiA, TiCK |
| Tabby, T | LVRN | TM+, tb1, tb2, tb3, tbas |
| Orange | Coming soon | |
| Variable Wideband, VWB | CORIN | VWB+, vwbSIB, vwbeSIB, vwbBSH |
| Tailless (Manx) | TBX1 | t+, t1, t2, t3, t4 |
- Electronic images of your cats will be requested. Once images are obtained and payment is received, testing will proceed. Send electronic images to the laboratory e-mail: felinegenome@missouri.edu. Put “Silver – your last name” in the subject line.
- For each cat, print and fill-out the attached form and include 4 double-sided cotton swabs. Pricing, payment and time until results to be determined.
- Submit forms with included swabs to:
Feline Genetics Laboratory
E109 Vet Med Building, 1520 E. Rollins St.
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: (+01) 573 884 2287
Email: felinegenome@missouri.edu